Nintendo games need to embrace mobile

Nintendo, once the biggest ticket in the gaming industry (remember how impossible it was to get your hands on a Wii several years ago?), reported today its first net loss, more than $900 million – which was even worse than expected. The reason for this? Nintendo believes that cell phone and tablet technology have devoured its gaming market. This isn’t a shocking realization by any means, but I find it amazing that Nintendo games are not on cell phones and tablets.

So why is Nintendo unwilling to adapt?

“Now is the time to embrace those brands around you who can help make you better. Nintendo games need to go mobile.”

As a father to avid cell phone and iPad “gamers” (to my annoyance, they never put their Angry Birds away while coming to visit), my children have shared their wish for really great Nintendo games to be made available on these platforms. Why hasn’t Nintendo done this? Think about it. Wouldn’t it be fantastic for them to play Super Mario Brothers on your iPhone? How about MarioKart on the iPad or Amazon Fire? This could be a bonus for everyone: gamers and manufacturers alike.

If Nintendo recognizes its failing, why is it still dragging its feet to make a change? Surely, the signs of this looming financial downfall were written on the walls around it. Is it that Nintendo is simply far too wrapped up in the cosmetics of its brand (its gaming systems) to recognize what portion of its brand customers are truly interested in? It’s the Nintendo games, stupid!

Apple had a similar dilemma years ago. Its was a sheer unwillingness to work with other manufacturers — an uncompromising stance that was both admirable yet financially foolish. Ultimately, it was Apple working with AT&T that fully brought the iPhone to life and, by linking with Intel, its computing processing capabilities grew exponentially.

So Nintendo, please, wake up. Now is the time to embrace those brands around you who can help make you better. Nintendo games need to go mobile.

The NFL Protests Tom Dougherty, CEO - Stealing Share 25 September 2017 NFL protests. The stakes are high. The NFL protests may be a danger to the US itself. What on earth is going on? Do you disagree with the NFL protests by many of the players? The ones where NFL...

Go Boldly Tom Dougherty, CEO - Stealing Share 21 September 2017 Go Boldly American Biopharmaceutical Companies Go Boldly, the marketing arm of the American Biopharmaceutical Companies, has launched a new TV campaign. It is perfect branding? It just might be. The key...